Amy JeffriesNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Reports on Louisiana politics and government - and the people shaping state policy - from Sue Lincoln and Wallis Watkins.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Capitol AccessTue, 26 Sep 2017 20:16:09 +0000Capitol Accesshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net
Sue LincolnWhile the Democratic candidate for State Treasurer – Derrick Edwards -- was a no-show, the three leading Republicans fielded reporters’ questions at the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday. Since all of them have said they would pattern their term, if elected, on former treasurer John Kennedy’s “watchdog” persona, the first question was: what do you see as the Treasurer’s main role?Treasurer Candidates Quizzedhttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/treasurer-candidates-quizzed
73312 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netTue, 26 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Treasurer Candidates QuizzedSue LincolnHave you ever been on a strict diet, counting every calorie, journaling every bite you take? For lawmakers, the state budget process has been like that for quite some time. But now legislators are being told: “The confidence that we are going to end last year in a surplus is there.”Surplus? So Tempting On A Fiscal Diethttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/surplus-so-tempting-fiscal-diet
73226 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netMon, 25 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Surplus? So Tempting On A Fiscal DietSue LincolnThere’s good state financial news, for a change. “Revenue is finally exceeding – slightly – the forecast.” After Governor John Bel Edwards made that statement on his monthly radio show Wednesday, it was confirmed during Thursday’s Revenue Estimating Conference meeting.Leftover Moneyhttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/leftover-money
73170 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netFri, 22 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Leftover MoneyWallis WatkinsLouisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, along with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, is leading the latest effort to repeal and replace Obamacare in the U.S. Senate.Senator Cassidy Driving Latest Health Care Reform Billhttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/senator-cassidy-driving-latest-health-care-reform-bill
73141 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netThu, 21 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Senator Cassidy Driving Latest Health Care Reform BillSue Lincoln“Probably the majority of the electorate doesn’t even know the new state Treasurer will be selected on October 14 th ,” says Jeremy Alford of lapolitics.com . The usual indicators of an imminent election aren’t there. Yard signs for local church fall fairs are more prevalent than those for the candidates. Campaign ads on TV have been rare."Undecided" Leads in Treasurer's Racehttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/undecided-leads-treasurers-race
73103 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netWed, 20 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000"Undecided" Leads in Treasurer's RaceSue LincolnWe hear it a lot – “reduce the size of government”. But what happens when you actually do? Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says in the past decade, they’ve had to cut 30 percent of their workforce.DCFS Gets Grant to Help With Caseworker Turnoverhttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/dcfs-gets-grant-help-caseworker-turnover
73068 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netTue, 19 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000DCFS Gets Grant to Help With Caseworker TurnoverSue LincolnThe approaching fiscal cliff has prompted a whole lot of meetings lately – behind closed doors. “I’m very optimistic that we’re going to get it done, working with these business roundtable meetings and the legislative leadership in both the House and the Senate,” Governor John Bel Edwards said, following his meeting with business leaders in Bossier City last week. In the past month, he has also met with business owners and representatives in Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Houma, and New Orleans. However, House Appropriations chairman Cameron Henry isn’t favorably impressed. “He’s doing these roundtable meetings with business leaders -- not to ask them how he can help expand their business,” Henry says, in a video posted to his Facebook page late last week. “Instead, it’s how can your company give the state more money so we can continue spending.” Henry’s video post came one day after the Associated Press published an interview with House Speaker Taylor Barras, about his meetings with HousePrivate Meetings and Public Contradictionshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/private-meetings-and-public-contradictions
73029 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netMon, 18 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Private Meetings and Public ContradictionsSue Lincoln“We have to find a way to fund TOPS for grown folks,” says Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Monty Sullivan, especially since the system now has the responsibility for adult education in the state -- a huge task.TOPS For Grown Folkshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/tops-grown-folks
72966 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netFri, 15 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000TOPS For Grown FolksSue LincolnWhat is a power plant, water company, or railroad worth in Louisiana? Much more than Monopoly money. “If they did this different methodology, which is supported by national organizations and which other states use, the value of these companies would increase by $2.4 billion.”What's A Utility Worth?http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/whats-utility-worth
72954 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netThu, 14 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000What's A Utility Worth?Sue LincolnShould Louisiana allow utility companies to compete? That’s one of the questions posed to Public Service Commission candidates at a forum Tuesday.PSC Candidates Field Forum Questionshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/psc-candidates-field-forum-questions
72941 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netWed, 13 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000PSC Candidates Field Forum QuestionsSue LincolnToday we continue the conversation with Public Affairs Research Council president Robert Travis Scott, looking into the proposed constitutional amendments on the October 14 th ballot. Amendment 3 sets up a new dedicated fund for transportation construction.Proposed Constitutional Amendments 2017: Dedicating Fundshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/proposed-constitutional-amendments-2017-dedicating-funds
72879 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netTue, 12 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Proposed Constitutional Amendments 2017: Dedicating FundsSue LincolnThere’s a trio of proposed constitutional amendments on the October 14 th ballot, and PAR’s Guide to the Amendments is out now. “We don’t tell you how to vote. We give you all the facts and let you make up your own mind,” says Public Affairs Research Council executive director Robert Travis Scott.Proposed Constitutional Amendments 2017: Property Taxeshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/proposed-constitutional-amendments-2017-property-taxes
72794 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netMon, 11 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Proposed Constitutional Amendments 2017: Property TaxesSue Lincoln“Our state economy is growing, but those benefits are not accruing to workers.” That’s the conclusion of the 3 rd biennial report on “ The State of Working Louisiana ”, issued by the Louisiana Budget Project Thursday. “The good news is the state has replaced all of the jobs lost during the Great Recession, plus added an additional 53,000 jobs – as of June 2017,” says LBP policy analyst and the report’s lead author Jeannie Donovan. “The bad news is business profits are consuming an increasing percentage of state economic output, and wages are not keeping pace with state productivity growth.” The report is based on data compiled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Current Population Survey. It shows 52% of the total state economic output is going toward business profits, rather than into raw materials, taxes, salaries or wages. Co-author Nick Albares notes that the part that is going to pay workers is being distributed far from equitably, with the top ten percent of LouisianaWorking in Louisiana: Who Profits?http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/working-louisiana-who-profits
72737 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netFri, 08 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Working in Louisiana: Who Profits?Wallis WatkinsThe task force charged with reviewing the TOPS scholarship program held its first meeting Wednesday at the Capitol.TOPS Task Force Meets For First Timehttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/tops-task-force-meets-first-time
72685 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netThu, 07 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000TOPS Task Force Meets For First TimeSue LincolnThe Louisiana Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on the constitutionality of funding Type-2 charter schools through the MFP. “Those are public schools. The state has an obligation to fund those schools,” Erin Bendily, the state Assistant Superintendent of Education says.State Supreme Court Looks at Constitutionality of Charter Fundinghttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/state-supreme-court-looks-constitutionality-charter-funding
72641 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netWed, 06 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000State Supreme Court Looks at Constitutionality of Charter FundingSue LincolnWith Labor Day behind us, campaigning for the October 14th state Treasurer’s race should finally ramp up, though it’s been decidedly ho-hum so far. U-L Monroe Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says there’s a good reason for that.Treasurer Hopefuls Campaigning for Endorsementshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/treasurer-hopefuls-campaigning-endorsements
72561 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netTue, 05 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Treasurer Hopefuls Campaigning for EndorsementsSue LincolnA crucial part of recovery from Harvey involves making sure southwest Louisiana’s roads and bridges are safe for travel. “ We’ve got closures because of washouts on our system, and bridges that -- after any event like this -- we have to inspect,” says DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson.Shift Happenshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/shift-happens
72560 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netMon, 04 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Shift HappensSue LincolnFew can dispute the need for the National Flood Insurance Program, considering the devastation wrought by Harvey. “The imperative to get it reauthorized, I think the exclamation point has been provided by Harvey, but we didn’t need Harvey to tell us how important flood insurance is,” says Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. And when Congress returns to work next week, Louisiana’s delegation will be leading the effort to renew NFIP, which expires September 30 th . “Senator Cassidy has a bill to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, as does Senator Kennedy,” Edwards states. The National Flood Insurance Program is currently $25-billion in the red, with less than $8-billion available to pay the claims that will arise out of Harvey. Senator John Kennedy says prior to this latest hurricane, he heard some say NFIP subsidizies Louisiana citizens at the expense of the rest of U.S. taxpayers. “There are some in Congress that think: Everybody in Louisiana lives on the water. Move!”Harvey Turns More Attention to NFIP Renewal Needhttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/harvey-turns-more-attention-nfip-renewal-need
72433 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netFri, 01 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000Harvey Turns More Attention to NFIP Renewal NeedSue LincolnGovernor John Bel Edwards says while Louisiana will have some picking up to do after Harvey, “Things are not as bad as had been forecasted, and so we’re very thankful for that.” He says our neighbors to the west were not nearly as fortunate.Harvey Relief: How To Helphttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/harvey-relief-how-help
72393 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netThu, 31 Aug 2017 08:00:00 +0000Harvey Relief: How To HelpSue LincolnHarvey makes his second landfall this morning in Louisiana. “ Then it will basically track diagonally across Louisiana from southwest Louisiana up through the northeast corner,” Governor John Bel Edwards says.Harvey Arrives, Bringing Flashbackshttp://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/harvey-arrives-bringing-flashbacks
72337 as http://wrkf.drupal.publicbroadcasting.netWed, 30 Aug 2017 08:00:00 +0000Harvey Arrives, Bringing Flashbacks